Redhawk Caldera i will sing no requiem

of course she couldn't say. of course — teya fought the urge to question if it was a matter of choice, her own — the alienating decisions that she had made for their family and on behalf of sorana. the things unsaid. the things denied.
but here was her oldest daughter now, living and vital and solid in her arms. the tears too trickled; her breath became soft sobbing.
she wanted to apologize; she wanted to —
but this was made. happening. a final plea might only strain things further. sorana wished to go. teya could not beg her to stay in a place that had not been home for so long.
"where you going to go, 'rana?" the small voice of a worried mother, no utterance of  to remove any focus from sorana, as she held her baby closer and closer and kissed the ears, the cheek, the forehead.
where would joy be for her girl?